Associate Group Leader / In Vivo Unit Manager

About the role

IQVIA is looking for a compassionate, proven unit manager to lead and run its in vivo animal unit at the Discovery Sciences site in Portishead. The role covers the smooth operation of the facility, compliance with UK Home Office regulations, leadership of several Technical and Husbandry Specialists, and the highest standards of animal welfare, staff performance and procedural compliance. It suits a hands-on manager with strong organisational skills and experience in a regulated animal research environment.

Key responsibilities

• Provide operational and people management for a small rodent animal unit.
• Ensure compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and Home Office, institutional and ethical requirements.
• Act as a holder of a Home Office Personal Licence (PIL) and perform licensed procedures.
• Oversee animal welfare, husbandry standards, health monitoring and environmental conditions.
• Support staff training, performance management and rota planning, and maintain accurate records of animal use, staffing and training.
• Liaise with scientists, veterinarians, the NACWO and other Named Persons to support study delivery, and contribute to continuous improvement of SOPs and regulatory readiness.
• Support internal and external audits and inspections, and keep up to date on animal welfare initiatives such as enrichment and handling.
• Manage direct reports daily, build relationships across the management community, and coach, guide and mentor junior staff and peers.

Required profile

• Degree, HND or equivalent in a biological or life sciences discipline, or significant equivalent experience in laboratory animal science.
• Demonstrable lab-based experience in a Contract Research Organisation or biotech discovery environment.
• Proven leadership or supervisory experience overseeing smaller teams.
• Home Office Personal Licence covering rodents, and eligibility and willingness to be appointed as a NACWO under ASPA, subject to Home Office approval.
• Ability to travel to the Portishead site daily and in emergencies, and to provide out-of-hours NACWO support and unit cover.

Required skills

• Practical knowledge of animal facility conditions: husbandry, biosecurity, environmental controls and welfare assessment.
• Strong communication skills.
• Advantageous but not essential: MSc/PhD, familiarity with ex vivo biomarker analysis and assay development, project leadership, client communication, surgical licence and experience, anaesthesia and analgesia knowledge, and data analysis and experimental design.

What we offer

• A competitive benefits package starting from day one, covering financial and retirement, health and wellness, and work-life balance.